Our Speakers

KWXC 88.9 FM

Skip Heitzig

Founder and senior pastor of Calvary of Albuquerque

Skip Heitzig is a native of southern California and experienced the volatile days of the counterculture in the late 60s and early 70s. Though raised in a religious home, Skip saw religion as a dead-end street with no answers. As a teenager, he got caught up in drugs and ventured into the occult. But God reached Skip one day in 1973 as he was watching a Billy Graham crusade on TV. The gospel message penetrated his soul, and he knelt and prayed to receive Christ.

Skip studied under Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, California, until 1981. After he married Lenya, the couple moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he worked in the medical field of radiology. In 1982, Skip began a home Bible study, which eventually grew into Calvary Albuquerque. In 1988 and 1989, Calvary Albuquerque was considered the fastest growing church in America. Today, Calvary Albuquerque ministers to over 15,000 people every weekend. Calvary Albuquerque has been instrumental in planting other churches, including several in Arizona, Colorado, and other parts of New Mexico.

Skip reaches out to thousands across the nation and throughout the world through his multimedia ministry, which includes a TV broadcast and nationwide half-hour radio program, The Connection.

Skip also helps equip others for living according to God’s principles through his writings. Some of his recent books include The Daily God Book, Church? Who Needs It, and How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It (revised). He has also published over two dozen booklets in the Lifestyle series, covering aspects of Christian living.

Skip holds a BA, MA, Doctor of Divinity, and a PhD in Philosophy, Biblical and Theological Studies from Trinity Southwest University. He has been awarded a doctor honoris causa from GFA Biblical Seminary. He currently serves on several boards of directors, including Samaritan’s Purse.

Skip and his wife, Lenya, and son and daughter-in-law, Nathan and Janaé, live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Skip and Lenya are the proud grandparents of Seth Nathaniel and Kaydence Joy.